Knit design system and method of making knitting data therefor

ABSTRACT

An operator inputs design information including shape information and stitch structure information of a fabric to be knitted by a keyboard input unit and a coordinate input unit. An engineering workstation prepares a fabric image showing the state of a finished fabric on the basis of these information, displays it on a color display, and converts it to sequence data indicating the knitting operation sequence of the fabric (knitting machine) and control data indicating the control operation of the knitting machine, respectively.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a knit design system and method ofpreparing knitting data thereof, wherein control data for instructing aknitting machine is created, and the state of a finished fabric can belearned by a display.

BACKGROUND ART

Heretofore, when a desired fabric is to be knitted by a knitting machinewhich is disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,608,642 or 4,768,357, forexample, an operator must set control data instructing contents fordriving a knitting machine mechanism such as knitting needles to beused, moving directions and distances of the needles, and the like, asknitting information.

However, in the knitting machine taught by U.S. Pat. No. 4,768,357, testknitting must be carried out by the machine to determine whether or notthe set control data is correct or the desired knit state is achieved.For this reason, test knitting and correction of the set control datamust be conducted a plurality of times before entering intomass-production. Thus, tedious work is required to set the final controldata for the knitting machine.

A recording device of pattern information described in U.S. Pat. No.4,608,642 displays stitches on a display screen, wherein the informationinstructing the knitting operation is inputted in the form of colorcodes. After that, the recording device prepares control procedure datafor the knitting machine according to the color codes inputted. Therecording device in U.S. Pat. No. 4,608,642, however, poses a problem inthat it requires greater operator skill for setting the control data asthe stitch structure becomes complicated.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

A first object of the present invention is to provide a knit designsystem which can reduce the repetition frequency of the test knitting,and enables the operator to learn the state of a finished fabric beforeactually knitting on the machine.

A second object of the present invention is to provide a knit designsystem and method for preparing knitting data for the same, which canreadily prepare control data to be set to the knitting machine.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provideda knit design system comprising: input means for inputting designinformation that indicates a shape of a fabric to be knitted and astitch structure; first storage means for storing first calculationinformation indicating correspondence between the design information andoperation information indicating a content of a knitting operation of aknitting machine; and first calculation processing means for convertingthe design information inputted from the input means to the operationinformation on the basis of the first calculation information in thefirst storage means.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provideda knit design system comprising in addition to the first aspect of thepresent invention: second storage means for storing for each type ofknitting machines second calculation information indicating acorrespondence between the operation information and control informationfor driving the knitting machine; designation means for designating atype of the knitting machine; and second calculation means forconverting operation information which has been converted by the firstcalculation means into the control information corresponding to thedesignated machine type on the basis of the second calculationinformation in the second storage means corresponding to the designatedmachine type.

According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided aknit design system comprising: retaining means for storing and retainingthe design information inputted, the operation information prepared, andthe control information prepared, in the second aspect of the presentinvention; and correction means for correcting information stored in theretaining means, wherein the correction means can serve the informationcorrected to the first calculation means when the information correctedis the design information, and can serve the information corrected tothe second calculation means when the information corrected is theoperation information.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provideda knit design system comprising: third storage means for storing imageinformation indicating a stitch structure in a plurality of graphicpatterns; input means for inputting design information indicating ashape of a fabric to be knitted and a stitch structure; first imageprocessing means for forming a contour image corresponding to a shapeindicated by the design information inputted; second image processingmeans for preparing a stitch image by using the plurality of graphicpatterns corresponding to a structure indicated by the designinformation inputted from the input means; third image processing meansfor synthesizing the stitch image prepared and the contour image inorder to prepare a fabric image; and display means for displaying thefabric image prepared.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provideda knit design system, wherein the second image processing means in thefourth aspect of the present invention selects the graphic patternsexternally instructed, and displays on the display means a fabric imageby using only graphic patterns selected.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provideda knit design system, wherein the third image processing means in thefourth aspect of the present invention scales up or down the fabricimage prepared.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a knit design system, wherein the third image processing meansin the fourth aspect of the present invention prepares the stitch imagefor front portion and back portion of the fabric, respectively.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a knitting data preparation method comprising the steps of:predetermining a first correspondence between a plurality of firstcharacteristic parameters indicating a stitch structure and a pluralityof second characteristic parameters indicating a knitting operation ofstitches; storing expansively on a memory the plurality of firstcharacteristic parameters associated with a fabric in a manner that eachof the plurality of first characteristic parameters corresponds to eachone of positions of stitches constituting the fabric to be knitted;reading by using a searching processing of a calculation unit theplurality of first characteristic parameters successively along aknitting direction of a yarn, the reading being performed with regard topositions of stitches continuously formed by the same yarn in thefabric; and preparing knitting data indicating a knitting procedure ofthe fabric by converting the plurality of first characteristicparameters which have been read to the plurality of secondcharacteristic parameters according to the first correspondence by usinga calculation processing of the calculation unit.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, there is provideda knitting data preparation method comprising, in addition to the stepsof the eighth aspect, the steps of: predetermining a secondcorrespondence between a plurality of control parameters designating aknitting operation of a knitting machine and the plurality of secondparameters; rearranging the plurality of second characteristicparameters in a knitting sequence of the knitting machine by thecalculation unit; and converting by the calculation processing of thecalculation unit the plurality of second characteristic parameters whichhave been rearranged to the plurality of control parameters according tothe second correspondence, so that second knitting data for controllingthe knitting machine is prepared.

According to the tenth aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a computer program product for use with a knit design system,having a computer usable medium including computer readable program codemeans embodied in the medium for causing the computer to convert firstcharacteristic parameters indicating a structure of a stitch to secondcharacteristic parameters indicating a knitting operation of the stitch,the computer program product comprising: first computer readable programcode means for causing the computer to define a correspondence betweenthe first characteristic parameters and the second characteristicparameters; second computer readable program code means for causing thecomputer to store expansively on a memory in the computer the pluralityof first characteristic parameters associated with a fabric in a mannerthat each of the plurality of first characteristic parameterscorresponds to each position of stitches constituting the fabric to beknitted; third computer readable program code means for causing thecomputer to read by using a search processing of the computer theplurality of first characteristic parameters from the memory along aknitting direction of a yarn in a manner that each of the plurality offirst characteristic parameters to be read corresponds to each ofpositions of stitches that are continuously formed by the same yarn inthe fabric; and fourth computer readable program code means for causingthe computer to prepare knitting data indicating a knitting procedure ofthe fabric by converting by a calculation processing of the computer theplurality of first characteristic parameters which have been read to theplurality of second characteristic parameters according to the firstcorrespondence.

According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, there isprovide a computer program product comprising in addition to the tenthaspect of the present invention: fifth computer readable program codemeans for causing the computer to define a second correspondence betweena plurality of control parameters designating a knitting operation of aknitting machine and the plurality of second characteristic parameters;sixth computer readable program code means for causing the computer torearrange the second characteristic parameters to a knitting sequence ofthe knitting machine; and seventh computer readable program code meansfor causing the computer to convert the plurality of secondcharacteristic parameters which have been rearranged to the plurality ofcontrol parameters according to the second correspondence.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the operationinformation indicating the knitting operation of knitting needles andthe like is prepared from the design information such as a stitchlength, a type of stitches and the like.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the controlinformation for operating knitting needles and the like is prepared fromthe operation information.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the operator canprepare new control information by correcting the design information andthe operation information which are used in preparing the controlinformation.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the operatorcan observe the state of a finished fabric of the knitting using thedesign information by merely inputting the design information of thefabric.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the entirestructure of a fabric can be readily learned since particular designinformation, which indicates various structural details such as a stitchtype, a relationship of connection between stitches, and the like, isdisplayed individually in graphic patterns.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, details of afine structure of stitches are readily seen because of the enlargementof the display. Furthermore, the entire fabric shape is easily seen bythe reduction of the display.

According to the seventh aspect of the present invent ion, since thefront port ion and the back portion can be displayed, the actual knitstate of the entire fabric is well shown.

According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, the structuralcontents of the entire fabric is stored in the memory by storing thefirst characteristic parameters in such a manner that they correspond torespective stitches, considering the fact that the structure of a singlestitch has one-to-one correspondence with the operation of a knittingneedle that knits that stitch structure. A series of the firstcharacteristic parameters arranged in accordance with the sequence ofthe knitting operation is prepared by extracting, from an informationgroup of the first characteristic parameters stored on the memory, thefirst characteristic parameters at a position where a stitch such as aloop is formed, along the knitting direction of the yarn. The knittingdata, which represent the knitting procedure of the entire fabric suchas the sequence of the operation of knitting needles, is prepared byconverting each of the series of the first characteristic parameters tothe second characteristic parameter.

According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, the controlparameters for operating the knitting needles of an actual knittingmachine is prepared according to the second characteristic parameters,for instance, the moving sequence of the knitting needles.

According to the tenth aspect of the present invention, the processingsteps described in the eighth aspect of the present invention areimplemented by a software processing of the computer.

According to the eleventh aspect of the present invention, theprocessing steps described in the ninth aspect of the present inventionare implemented by a software processing of the computer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a basic construction of an embodimentaccording to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a detailed system construction of theembodiment according to the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a construction of an engineeringworkstation shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing a main control procedure of the systemprocessing in the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing shape data of the embodimentaccording to the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a table showing shape data of the embodiment according to thepresent invention;

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing loop shapes, stitch structures,and knitting manners which can be handled in embodiments in accordancewith the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a flow chart showing a control procedure for a shape designprocessing of the embodiment according to the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram for explaining an input operation offabric shape information of the embodiment according to the presentinvention;

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram for explaining an input operation offabric shape information of the embodiment according to the presentinvention;

FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram for explaining an input operation ofknitting manner information of the embodiment according to the presentinvention;

FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a fabric shapedisplay of the embodiment according to the present invention;

FIG. 13 is a flow chart showing a knit pattern design procedure of theembodiment according to the present invention;

FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a display in theknit pattern design processing of the embodiment according to thepresent invention;

FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a stitchinformation display in the knit pattern design processing of theembodiment according to the present invention;

FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram of a display example showing a knittingmanner in the knit pattern design processing of the embodiment accordingto the present invention;

FIG. 17 a schematic diagram showing a link display in the knit patterndesign processing of the embodiment according to the present invention;

FIG. 18 is a schematic diagram showing a display of the back of a fabricin the knit pattern design processing of the embodiment according to thepresent invention;

FIG. 19 is a schematic diagram showing a jacquard pattern sample in theknit pattern design operation processing of the embodiment according tothe present invention;

FIG. 20 is a schematic diagram showing a displayed image for setting astitch length of a jacquard back texture in the knit pattern designprocessing of the embodiment according to the present invention;

FIG. 21 is a schematic diagram for explaining stitch structure data ofthe embodiment according to the present invention;

FIG. 22 is a schematic diagram for explaining stitch structure data ofthe embodiment according to the present invention;

FIG. 23 is a schematic diagram showing the contents of the design data,and their stored state in a memory of the embodiment according to thepresent invention;

FIG. 24 is a schematic diagram showing the contents of the design data,and their stored state in a memory of the embodiment according to thepresent invention;

FIG. 25 is a flow chart showing a knitting operation data preparationprocedure of the embodiment according to the present invention;

FIG. 26 is a schematic diagram showing a construction of the controldata of the embodiment according to the present invention;

FIG. 27 is a flow chart showing a control data preparation procedure ofthe embodiment according to the present invention; and

FIG. 28 is a flow chart showing a fabric-related data display procedureof the embodiment according to the present invention.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows a basic construction of an embodiment according to thepresent invention.

In FIG. 1, the numeral 1000 indicates an input means for inputtingdesign information instructing a shape and stitch structure of a fabricto be knitted.

The numeral 1100 indicates a first storage means for storing firstcalculation information instructing a correspondence relation betweenthe design information and the operation information providing thecontents of the knitting operation of a knitting machine.

The numeral 1200 indicates a first calculation means for converting thedesign information inputted from the input means to the operationinformation according to the first calculation information of the firststorage means.

The numeral 2000 indicates a second storage means for storing, for eachtype of the knitting machines, second calculation information indicatinga correspondence relation between the operation information and thecontrol information for driving the knitting machine.

The numeral 2100 indicates designation means for designating a machinetype of the knitting machine.

The numeral 2200 indicates a second calculation means for converting theoperation information that has been converted by the first calculationmeans into the control information corresponding to the designatedmachine type according to the second calculation information in thesecond storage means corresponding to the designated machine type.

The numeral 3000 indicates a third storage means for storing imageinformation representing stitch structures in terms of a plurality ofgraphic patterns.

The numeral 3100 indicates a first image processing means for forming acontour image corresponding to the shape indicated by the designinformation which has been inputted from the input means.

The numeral 3200 indicates a second image processing means for preparinga stitch image using the plurality of graphic patterns corresponding tothe structure indicated by the design information which has beeninputted from the input means.

The numeral 3300 indicates a third image processing means for preparinga fabric image by combining the stitch image prepared and the contourimage.

The numeral 3400 indicates a display means for displaying the preparedfabric image.

Prior to describing the present invention in more detail, a systemconstruction of a knit design system to which the present invention isapplied will be described with reference to FIG. 2.

In FIG. 2, a CAD system 100 for conducting the design of fabrics, apersonal computer 200 for assisting the system processing, and aknitting machine 300, which are associated with the present invention,are connected in the form of a network through a communication cable400.

The CAD system 100 mainly comprises a keyboard input unit 110, acoordinate input unit 120 such as a mouse, a color display (displayunit) 130, and an engineering workstation 140. The CAD system isdetachably provided with an electronic camera 150, a scanner 160, aportable storage medium such as a floppy disk and the like.

The operator uses the keyboard input unit 110 and the coordinate inputunit 120 to input various data (design information) on the design of thefabric. The color display 130 (the display unit) displays the input dataand the states of the designed fabric. As will be described later, thecolor display 130 displays, according to the operator's instruction,knitting procedure data (sequence data, the operation information of thefirst aspect of the present invention) which have been converted fromthe input data by the engineering workstation 140, or the control datafor controlling the drive of the knitting machine 300.

Any type of known image processing unit that can perform imagereduction, enlargement and the preparation of a graphic image can beused as the engineering workstation 140.

The camera 150 and the scanner 160 are used for picking up an imaging ofa fabric, and inputting the image to the engineering workstation 140,respectively.

The knitting machine comprises a knitting machine main unit 310 and aknitting machine control panel 320. The knitting machine control panel320 is provided with the drive control data inputted through thecommunication cable 400 or with the drive control data stored on aportable storage medium such as a floppy disk, and drives the knittingmachine main unit according to the driving control data. Since aconventional type knitting machine 300 known in the art, such as thatdescribed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,768,357, can be employed as the knittingmachine 300, the details thereof are not described herein.

An example of the construction of the engineering workstation 140 isshown in FIG. 3.

In FIG. 3, a central processing unit (CPU) 141 conducts an informationtransfer processing with various devices connected via a bus, inaccordance with a system program stored in a read only memory (ROM) 142.The CPU 141 also reads programs (first and second calculationinformation of the first and second aspects of the present invention)for fabric design from the floppy disk set in a floppy disk storage unit(FDD) 145, and loads them on a random access memory (RAM) 143.Furthermore, the CPU 141 executes, according to the programs in the RAM143, a fabric design processing, a preparation processing of theknitting procedure, and a preparation of the knitting machine controldata, which will be described below.

As will be described later, the CPU 141 operates as the first and secondcalculation means (the first calculation means 1200 and the secondcalculation means 2200 shown in FIG. 1) of the first and second aspectsof the present invention.

A video RAM 146 has an area for storing image information to bedisplayed on the color display 130 and a synthesizing area for preparingthe image information.

The display image information on the video RAM 146 is read by the CPU141, and is outputted to the color display 130 through an outputinterface 147.

Information on fabric design, which has been instructed by the operatorusing the keyboard input unit 110 and the coordinate input unit 120, istransferred to the CPU 141 through an input interface 144. The inputinterface 144 can also be connected to the camera 150 and the scanner160.

The keyboard input unit 110 and the coordinate input unit 120 operate asthe input means (input means 1000 in FIG. 1) of the first aspect of thepresent invention, and as the designation means (designation means 2100in FIG. 1) of the first aspect of the present invention.

With such a system arrangement, the operator prepares the control dataindicating the knitting procedure of the fabric and the drive controldata for the knitting machine 300 by using the CAD system 100.

The main control procedure for executing this processing is shown inFIG. 4. This control procedure has been stored in a floppy disk inadvance, and is transferred to the program memory in the engineeringworkstation 140 in response to a start (read) instruction from thekeyboard input unit 110 when the floppy disk is set into the engineeringwork station. The main control procedure shown in FIG. 4 is thenexecuted by the microprocessor or the central processing unit (CPU 141in FIG. 3) in the engineering workstation 140 in response to aprocessing instruction from the keyboard input unit 110.

A design processing associated with the present invention will now bedescribed with reference to the flow chart shown in FIG. 4.

The engineering workstation 140 initializes various devices in themachine and various data values necessary for the processing in responseto a control procedure start instruction in FIG. 4 (step S100). The menuis then displayed on the color display 130 to prompt the operator toselect a processing menu (step S110).

The present embodiment has the following processing menu.

1) Design processing of a fabric shape

2) Fabric display processing for displaying the state of the finishedfabric when knitting is carried out by the knitting machine and the knitpattern preparation processing, which are performed on the basis of thedata associated with the fabric that has been prepared by the designprocessing of the fabric shape.

3) Processing for preparing the knitting procedure of the designedfabric (corresponding to the first and third aspects of the presentinvention).

4) Processing for preparing the drive control data of the knittingmachine from the knitting procedure mentioned above (corresponding tothe second aspect of the present invention).

5) Processing for displaying the drive control data for the knittingmachine.

6) Processing to complete the execution of the control procedure in FIG.4.

The operator selects a desired processing menu from the above-mentionedmenu by designating the menu position by the cursor on the displayscreen of the color display 130 by means of the coordinate input unit120 (step S120).

The engineering workstation 140 reads from an internal program memory asub-processing procedure corresponding to the selected processing menuitem (except for end processing), and executes it. When the processingof the selected processing menu item has been completed, the executionprocedure of the engineering workstation 140 returns to step S110, wherethe menu is displayed, and the operator selects another menu processingitem.

Each item of the processing menu mentioned above will be described inorder of the operator's operation procedure.

(A) Design Processing of a Fabric Shape

Suppose that a fabric example as shown in FIG. 5 is to be designed. InFIG. 5, numerals that are placed between arrows in the vertical orhorizontal direction indicate the number of stitches. Numerals including"-" symbols like 6-2-3 indicate that a step is repeated three times, inwhich the number of stitches is decreased (or increased) by two stitcheswhen 6 courses are knitted.

The dimensions of the fabric are assumed to take values as shown in FIG.6. In FIG. 6, the position numbers are an identification number affixedto the position designated by a shape input processing which will bedescribed later.

Furthermore, various types of stitch structures shown in FIG. 7 can behandled by the present embodiment.

By selecting the design processing menu of a fabric shape, theengineering workstation 140 transfers its processing to the controlprocedure of FIG. 8, and displays an image as shown in FIG. 9 on thecolor display 130. At this point, the contour image A of the shape inputwindow for inputting the shape information is not displayed.

The operator moves the cursor onto the size button (not shown) in thewindow for menu selection shown in FIG. 9 by the coordinate input unit120, and sets the mode for inputting the size data and the stitchstructure. Then, the operator enters identification names of the data tobe inputted henceforth from the keyboard input unit 110 (step S1010).

Next, the operator inputs data with regard to the entire fabric from thekeyboard input unit 110 (step S1020). The input data includes:

A unit of a size input;

Stitch length of the entire fabric;

Parameter values indicating the knitting manner of one stitch (see FIGS.23 and 24, details thereof which will be described later); and

A yarn number used for knitting, a link start position, and an endposition.

The engineering workstation 140 stores the input data into the internalmemory every time the input data is entered from the keyboard input unit110.

For this purpose, the operator moves the cursor along the contour inFIG. 9 on the display screen of the color display 130 by using thecoordinate input unit 120 so that the contour image is displayed on thedisplay screen, and the shape is inputted (step S1030). The inputtedshape is stored in the engineering workstation 140 in the form of atwo-dimensional dot pattern.

Next, the operator sets the size input mode by pointing with the cursora size input switch (function) in a size data input window on thedisplay screen, and then inputs the fabric sizes (FIG. 6) at variouslocations of the contour pattern A on the display screen, as well ascommon input data and their positions by using the coordinate input unit120 and the keyboard input unit 110 (step S1040). The common input dataincludes, for example, structural data of one stitch (which will bedescribed later), a type of narrowing, the number of stitches of thenarrowing, the stitch length of the narrowing, a linking type, andlinking stitch length.

Then, the operator sets the input mode for a bottom rib stitch, inputsthe range of the rib stitch (called a "rib range") as shown in FIG. 11by the coordinate input unit 120, and designates a type of the ribstitch (e.g. a type of the rib, a stitch length of the rib) by anindication switch in the size data input window (step S1050).

The input data described above are stored in exclusive storage area inthe memory of the engineering workstation 140 as follows. The shape datais stored in the form of dot patterns or in terms of end point positiondata. The other input data is stored in the form of numerical values oridentification symbols.

The common data relating to the stitches is stored expansively in thememory for individual stitch positions in the fabric.

When the operator operates the displayed switch in the size data inputwindow, the CPU (whose numerical reference is 141; hereinafter thereference is omitted) in the engineering workstation 140 reads size datain the memory, creates in the memory (RAM 143) a contour image showingthe actual shape in proportion to the sizes, and displays it in theshape input window of the color display 130 as shown in FIG. 12 (stepS1060).

Subsequently, according to the operator's instruction, the CPU in theengineering workstation 140 stores the input design data (size data,stitch-related data) on a floppy disk (FD) (step S1070). After that, theCPU of the engineering workstation 140 completes the control procedurein FIG. 8, returns to the menu display processing of step S110 in FIG.4, and waits for the operator's selection of another menu item.

(B) A Knit Pattern Design and a Display Processing of the Fabric

When the operator selects the knit pattern design and fabric displaymenu from the initial menu screen (which is displayed in step S110 ofFIG. 2), the control procedure of FIG. 13 is executed by the engineeringworkstation 140. The identification name of the fabric data that hasbeen prepared in the above fabric design processing and stored on thefloppy disk, is read by the engineering workstation 140, and isdisplayed on the color display 130 (step S2010).

The operator specifies a desired data name with the cursor moved by thecoordinate input unit 120. The engineering workstation 140 reads thefabric data corresponding to the specified fabric data name (design dataname) from the floppy disk, and loads (stores) it in the internal memory(step S2020).

The engineering workstation 140 then divides the display screen of thecolor display 130 into three window area, that is, a fabric canvas area,an operation panel area, and a layout canvas area, and displays thefollowing patterns and images in the individual areas. The fabric canvasarea displays an enlarged fabric image of a specified part of thecontour image showing the fabric shape displayed in the layout canvasarea.

The layout canvas area displays in a reduced form the shape data (FIG.12) included in the selected fabric data. The operation panel windowdisplays not only various switches that are used for the data input inthe knit pattern design, but also switch groups for inputtinginstructions associated with the display, such as enlargement,reduction, movement, and the like of the fabric canvas area.

The fabric canvas area of the present embodiment has the followingdisplay functions:

(1) A function for displaying a knitted final fabric state as shown inFIG. 14 (which corresponds to the fourth aspect of the presentinvention);

(2) A function for displaying an input design data (FIG. 15) associatedwith the stitch at a specific position;

(3) A function for moving a display range;

(4) A function for changing a display scale of stitches (scaling up/downof stitches) (corresponding to the sixth aspect of the presentinvention);

(5) A function for displaying a mark at a specific position,

(6) A function for graphically displaying specific attribute parametersin the design data (see FIGS. 16 and 17) (corresponding to the fifthaspect of the present invention);

(7) A function for displaying front/back fabric state (see FIG. 18)(corresponding to the seventh aspect of the present invention); and

(8) Others.

These display functions are selected by specifying a function selectionswitch on the operation panel using the coordinate input unit 120.

The display procedure associated with the present invention will bedescribed later.

The operator uses the above display functions in order to correct theinputted data while confirming the fabric state and the design datainputted on the display screen, and to design the knit pattern.

The CPU of the engineering workstation 140 identifies the content of aninstruction inputted from the keyboard input unit 110 or from aninstruction switch on the display screen, and conducts the displayprocessing according to the individual instruction contents (step S2500,which will be described later), data correction processing (step S2065),and other processings (step S2075). The data correction processing isperformed by overwriting the inputted attribute information to be usedfor correction and to be used for correction and to be associated withthe design data, on the attribute information that has been stored inthe internal memory of the engineering workstation 140. In this case,the CPU and the keyboard input unit correspond to the correction meansof the third aspect of the present invention.

As an example of the knit pattern design, an operator's instructionprocedure and the image display for preparing the design data for atwo-tone jacquard which includes initials "T" and "M" in a back textureof a bird's eye as shown in FIG. 19 will be described.

(1) The design data for a fabric without a pattern is read from thefloppy disk to the internal memory in the engineering workstation 140.

(2) Positions to be patterned are confirmed by using the yarn numberdisplay function. At this point, the no-pattern fabric shown in FIG. 19is displayed on the screen.

(3) Since the entire stitches of this fabric use yarn number "1", theyarn number at the pattern insertion positions is changed to the yarnnumber of another color, for example, to "2". The positions where a yarnwhose number is "2" is used are specified by using the coordinate inputunit 120 for pointing the hatched portions in FIG. 19. As a result, thestitch portions associated with the yarn number "2" are displayed in acolor different from those associated with the yarn number "1".

(4) The patterns are confirmed on the display screen and, if necessary,the pattern insertion positions are corrected by the above processing(3).

(5) The jacquard conversion function (program) is started by using theoperation panel, and the course range to be subjected to the jacquardconversion is specified by pointing the range of pattern portions on thedisplay screen by the coordinate input unit 120.

(6) The back texture display function is selected to display the stateof the back fabric as shown in FIG. 20, and then the type of the backtexture (bird's eye) and the stitch length for each yarn number areentered.

(7) Instruct the execution of the jacquard conversion

By this jacquard conversion the design data is converted for the fronttexture in such a manner that a plurality of courses, each of which hasa single yarn number, are arranged expansively, in ascending order ofyarn numbers. For the back texture, the knitting manner patterninformation of the selected type is incorporated into the design data.

In addition, other data conversions, and additional correction of thedesign data associated with the jacquard pattern such as loop head andthe like are performed.

(8) The design data on which the jacquard conversion processing has beencompleted is stored on the floppy disk. It is also possible to store thecompleted design data on the floppy disk before the jacquard conversionand after the pattern designation, when necessary.

Although the engineering workstation 140 has other processing functionsassociated with the pattern design such as a setting and cancelingfunction of an intarsia type and a function to insert a pattern in theform of a patch pattern, in addition to the above-described fabricdisplay, the design data correction, and the jacquard conversion, thesefunctions are not described in detail because they are not associatedwith the present invention.

After executing the above processings, the CPU of the engineeringworkstation 140 completes the control procedure in FIG. 13 in responseto the end instruction from the operator, proceeds to the menu displayprocessing of step S110 in FIG. 4, and waits for the next menu selectionby the operator.

(C) A Knitting Procedure Preparation Processing

When the operator selects the knitting procedure preparation menu on thedisplay screen, the CPU of the engineering workstation 140 transfers itscontrol to the knitting procedure preparation processing in the sequenceof steps S110-S120-S130-S140-S150-S3000.

Since the knitting procedure is prepared by using the above-describeddesign data, the design data stored on the internal memory and thesequence data constituting the knitting procedure will be describedfirst.

(a) The Design Data

The design data is broadly classified into size data and stitchstructure data.

The size data comprises dimension data in which the fabric shape isrepresented with the fabric position and the number of stitches, adimension unit, a knitting density, and a stitch length.

The common stitch structure data associated with a stitch itselfcomprises data associated with the bottom of the stitch (called bottomdata), data associated with the middle portion of the stitch (calledmiddle data), and data associated with the top of the stitch (called topdata) as shown in FIG. 21.

The bottom data is associated with the stitch which is placed on thecurrent needle before the knitting of the stitch, and its identificationname is represented as nslots. More specifically, the name nslotsrepresents the number of slots from which the current needle receivesstitches of the prior course. For reference, stitch states for nslots=1and nslots=2 are shown in FIG. 22.

The middle data indicates features of the stitches formed by knittingoperation, including data on the type of particular stitches, a stitchlength, an encounter (a bed), and a yarn (number and connection in thewale direction).

More specifically, the attribute information (also referred to asparameters) having the following identification names is provided.

head: One-bit information indicating whether or not the current needletakes the yarn in the knitting.

kousoku: One-bit information indicating whether or not the knit stitchis restricted.

nejiri: This indicates that the knitted stitch is in a twist state.

deai: This term indicates a reference encounter of a holding heademployed in the knitting. For example, rib encounter is indicated by anidentification code of "1", and double-sided encounter is indicated by"2".

domoku: The stitch length of a stitch to be knitted is indicated by anumerical value.

yarn No.: This term indicates a designation number of the yarn used inthe stitch knitting.

yarnLS: This term indicates the direction of a stitch to which the leftside yarn end of the described stitch is connected.

yarnLP: This term indicates the distance from the stitch at the presentposition to the stitch whose left side yarn end is connected, and alsoindicates the start and end of a yarn link and a type (A, B, C) of theintarsia stitch.

yarnLB: This term indicates a bed for producing the direction of astitch which is connected to the left side yarn end of the stitch at thepresent position (value 1 indicates the back side bed, and value 0indicates the front side bed).

yarnRS: This term indicates the direction of a stitch to which the rightside yarn end of the stitch at the present position is connected (value1 indicates the right, and value 0 indicates the left).

yarnRP: This term indicates the distance from the present position tothe stitch to which the right side yarn end of the stitch at the presentposition is connected, and also indicates the start and end of a yarnlink and a type (A, B, C) in the intarsia stitch.

yarnRB: This term indicates a bed for producing the direction of astitch which is connected to the right side yarn end of the stitch atthe present position (value 1 indicates the back side bed, and value 0indicates the front side bed).

The top data includes the following data indicating the movingdestination and the overlapping sequence (a value indicating thevertical positional relationship when stitches are intersecting oroverlapping) of the stitch, which are necessary for stitch transfer.

headS: This term indicates whether the wale direction dislocation of theloop head against the knitting action point takes place in theincreasing direction (right side) or the decreasing direction (leftside) of the needle number.

headP: This term indicates an amount of the wale direction dislocationof the loop head against the knitting action point.

headB: This term indicates whether the head of a transfer stitch loopcatches the back head or the front head.

kasanari: This term indicates by a numerical value the overlappingsequence when the stitch at the present position is intersecting oroverlapping with another stitch.

The stitch types shown in FIG. 7 are represented by the terms head,kousoku, and nejiri among the parameters of the middle data describedabove.

Parameter values corresponding to some stitch types are shown in Table1.

                  TABLE 1                                                         ______________________________________                                        Stitch type    head      kousoku  nejiri                                      ______________________________________                                        Knit without twist =                                                                         1 =       1 =      0                                           Knit with twist =                                                                            1 =       1 =      1                                           Tuck without twist =                                                                         1 =       0 =      0                                           Tuck with twist =                                                                            1 =       0 =      1                                           Welt =         0 =       0 =      0                                           ______________________________________                                    

In the present embodiment, when the above common parameter values areinputted by the operator for a stitch, the CPU of the engineeringworkstation 140 stores expansively, for all the stitch positionsconstituting the fabric, the parameter values into the internal memoryin the form of a table as shown in FIGS. 23 and 24.

Furthermore, with regard to stitch structure information such as thelink start/end positions, only those for specific stitch positions arestored into the memory.

(b) Sequence Data

Sequence data (operation information of the first aspect of the presentinvention) describes the procedure for forming an objective fabric forthe knitting operation of a general knitting machine. The sequence dataincludes the following elements:

(a) A knitting operation (having a yarn number, a knitting direction, aneedle number, a needle operation, and stitch length as parameters).

(b) A racking operation (having an amount of the racking (head) movementas a parameter).

(c) A stitch transferring operation (having the needle numbers on theservice side and the receive side as parameters).

(d) A dropping action (having the number of a needle as a parameter).

(e) An encounter setting operation.

(f) A pull-down tension setting operation.

With the six operations, all the fabrics knitted by an ordinary knittingmachine can be produced. The sequence data is described in such a mannerthat the elements (a)-(f) in the sequence required for the knitting, arearranged. The sequence data is expressed by integers including theelements (a)-(f). The numerals and allocation of the individualoperations will be described later.

The sequence data is structured as follows:

First, it has a space of several bytes as a head.

Next, for each yarn number, several bytes are assigned for informationon the allocation of the used yarn number and the yarn carrier. Here,the first bytes for the information are blank, followed by the nextbytes for the first yarn number. Use of the yarn number "1" is indicatedby a bit of "1", and the use of each yarn carrier is indicated byanother bit of "1". After that, information indicating ordinary knittingprocedure follows.

The sequence data is formed by arranging each set of data in theknitting direction, the set of data corresponding to a row which isreferred to as a course.

One course data is provided with an identification name COURSE, and isrepresented by (the course number), (operation information in thecourse), and COURSEend (an end code of the data).

The course number is an integer, is initialized to 1, and is incrementedby 1 with each course. The operation information in the course includesthe following elements which are arranged freely as needed.

The knitting operation information is provided with an identificationname AMI, and is represented by (a yarn number), (knitting directiondata), (needle operation data), and AMIend (an end code).

The knitting direction data takes one of the following:

RIGHT: rightward knitting

LEFT: leftward knitting

EQUAL: either direction.

The needle operation is represented as (a needle number), (a knittingmanner), and (a stitch length), and sets of these information for thenecessary number of needles are described.

The needle number is a numeral that is represented as follows, where nis the needle number.

a front needle is indicated as n*2-1,

a back needle is indicated as n*2.

The knitting manner data is one of the following:

K: Knitting operation

T: Tucking operation

W: Welting operation

H: Returning operation

KQ: Knit twisting operation

TQ: Tuck twisting operation

The racking operation data is provided with an identification name RACK,and is represented as (a racking amount) and RACKend (an end code).

The racking amount is expressed in 1/2 needle pitch. The sign thereof isnegative for leftward racking. The stitch transfer operation data isrepresented as MEsrv (an identification name of a needle on the servingside), MErcv (an identification name of a needle on the receiving side),and MEend (an end code).

The number of needles required on the serving and receiving sides aredescribed for individual operations. Here, they must match each other.

The number used corresponds to the number of a needle in the knittingoperation.

The dropping action data is represented as HAstart (an identificationname of a drop needle) and HAend (an end code).

The number used corresponds to the number of a needle in the knittingoperation.

The set data of the encounter is represented as DEAI (an identificationname of the encounter) and DEAI end (an end code).

The encounter is either of the following:

GOMU: a rib encounter

RYOMEN: a confrontation encounter

This data is not used for setting the encounter, but for confirming ifthe present encounter agrees with the objective encounter. The defaultencounter is the rib encounter.

The pull-down tension setting data is represented as TEN (anidentification name of pull-down tension) and TENend (an end code).

The pull-down tension is indicated by an integer from 0 to 255. Thecorrespondence between the pull-down tension setting data and the actualtension is determined by the controller of the knitting machine mainunit. The tension setting is used for changing when the next code isappeared after the code is appeared once, or used before the knittingoperation is made.

In addition, an original point search code can be described betweencourses with the following identification name, if necessary.

ZRETall: searching for the original points of all motors

ZRETrack: searching for the original point of a racking motor

ZRETky: searching for the original point of a yarn carrier

ZREThari: searching for the original point of needles

The object of the present embodiment is to prepare the sequence data fora knitting machine for weft knitting. In the sequence data, the needlenumbers are automatically allocated to the stitch positions in thecourse direction in a one-to-one correspondent manner. The above data(a) to (e) are automatically prepared using the individual parameters ofthe design data. The other data take predetermined default values unlessthe operator inputs them for indicating.

Furthermore, these sequence data groups are developed and stored on theinternal memory of the engineering workstation 140 in the form of atable for each stitch position in the sequence conversion processingdescribed below.

(c) Conversion to the Sequence Data

The preparation of the knitting operation data for the knitting needlesin the sequence data will be described as an example.

FIG. 25 shows the preparation procedure of the knitting operation data.

In the present embodiment, in view of the fact that the stitch (loop) isformed by the knitting operation of the knitting needles, the sequencein which the stitches (more precisely, loop heads) are continuouslyformed, and their stitch positions are found for a yarn (a particularyarn number) among the design data groups stored in connection with thestitch positions. Then, parameters associated with the sequence data areretrieved from the design data at the stitch positions corresponding tothe formation sequence, and the parameters are used to prepare thesequence data.

Since the detected stitch positions have one-to-one correspondence withthe positions where the knitting needles operate (that is, the positionsfor knitting, transferring, and the like), it can be converted to theknitting needles instructed to be driven.

For this reason, the CPU of the engineering workstation 140 performs thefollowing search processing on the design data groups stored in thememory.

Specifically, referring to FIG. 25, the yarn number to be searched foris initially set to "1" (step S3010), and the design data is readbeginning from the read start position of the memory (a loop processingconsisting of steps S3020-S3030-S3040-S3050-S3030). When the CPU detectsin step S3040 that the link start information of yarn number "1" isincluded in the design data, the CPU transfers the procedure to stepS3100 to retrieve the knitting manner data and the stitch length datafrom the read design data. Furthermore, the CPU reversely calculates thestitch position from the presently read address, and then sets theneedle type data and the needle number (as well as the needle type)corresponding to the stitch position in the design data. Furthermore,the sequence data (knitting operation data) including a set of theneedle numbers, the knitting manner data, and stitch length data isprepared, and are stored in the memory (steps S3100-S3110).

The CPU further calculates the next stitch position to be connected tothe present stitch by using the information on the position and distanceof the stitch to be formed next along the knitting direction of theyarn, and computes the read address of the memory corresponding to thecalculation result in accordance with the link-related information inthe design data which has been read. Then, the CPU reads the design dataat that address (steps S3120-S3130).

Thereafter, the loop processing of steps S3140-S3100 to S3140 isrepeated until the link end information is detected in step S3140. Thus,the CPU sequentially detects positions where stitches are to becontinuously formed, that is, the knitting positions, forms the knittingoperation data on the basis of the design data, and stores them in thememory.

Thus, after storing the driving sequence of the knitting needle for theyarn of number "1" in the form of knitting operation data, the CPUupdates the yarn number to "2", and returns the procedure to step S3020when the link end is detected (step S3140).

Subsequently, after detecting the link start position of the yarn ofnumber "2" in the loop processing of steps S3030-S3050 in a mannersimilar to those described above, the CPU stores the driving sequence ofthe knitting needles corresponding to the stitch formation sequence inthe loop processing of steps S3100-S3140.

When the above processing is completed for all the yarn numbers (stepS3020), the sequence data prepared is registered on the floppy disk as afile by the operator's instruction (step S3300). Then, the CPU ends theexecution of the present control procedure.

In the present embodiment, since the other parameter data of thesequence data can be prepared in the same procedure except for the casewhere the other parameter data is used in substitute for the knittingoperation data, description of the preparation procedure of the otherparameter data is omitted.

For reference, an example of the knitting operation data prepared in theprocedure described above is shown below.

    ______________________________________                                        Yarn No.   Needle No.                                                                              Knitting operation sequence                              ______________________________________                                        1          (f102, k,30)-(f103, k,30)-(f104, k,30) . . .                       .                                                                             .                                                                             .                                                                             ______________________________________                                    

wherein f is an identification code indicating the front needle, k is anidentification code indicating the knitting manner (knitting operation),and 30 is a numeral indicating the stitch length.

(D) Conversion to the Control Data

Before describing the conversion processing, an arrangement of thecontrol data used for a flat knitting machine is shown in FIG. 26. Thecontrol data is based on the knitting schedule. The knitting schedule iscomposed of the basic operations of the knitting machine, which arearranged in the sequence required for knitting. The basic operationsmainly comprise the knitting, racking, transferring, and tensionchanges, with some instructions to control the knitting schedule.Knitting here means one yarn-carrier operation, and a withdrawaloperation also constitutes one knitting operation. The instructions andtheir parameters are described below.

In knitting, the knitting parameters are referred to first. The knittingparameters indicate the designation of a yarn carrier, a target value ofthe operation, start conditions, knitting ranges, a pull-down tensionsetting value, and the like. In addition, it is necessary in actualknitting to set a cam pattern (which varies depending on the stitchlength and the yarn type) for each needle in the knitting range. A tablestoring these cam patterns is a cam shape designation table. This tableallocates a predetermined cam number to each needle in the knittingrange. The present embodiment can use 97 cam numbers. This includes onefor mis-operation, 48 for knit and tuck operations, respectively. Sincethe knit and tuck operations must be used as a pair, 48 types of cams(stitch length codes) of different stitch length and yarn type can beused. Cam index data indicates the types of the 48 common cams in apiece of the entire fabric. This ASCII file indicates the stitch lengthand yarn type for each stitch length code. On the basis of this data,the knitting machine main unit searches the database to convert into anactual cam pattern according to this data.

For transferring of the stitch, the parameters identical to the knittingparameters are provided. The range of transfer needles is determined bythe knitting parameter, and the needle corresponding to it is instructedas one of the receiving side, the serving side or the non-operation inaccordance with the cam shape designation table.

For other instructions that require parameters have parameters ofpredetermined bits in the parameter table.

The end of knitting end is indicated by the knitting end instruction inthe knitting schedule. In addition, conditions for starting knitting,history of the control data, and the like are also stored in the camindex data.

In order to store the above individual tables as files, each table nameis provided with an identification name. Each file has a headercomprising a unit size of its data, the number of data, a tableidentification number, and a table version number. The knitting machineparameter file attached to the knitting machine main unit is providedwith another identification name so that it is distinguished from thecontrol data file.

Contents of each table will be described below.

(a) The Knitting Schedule

The end of the data constituting the knitting schedule is indicated byan end code added at the end position of the data. The knitting scheduleuses codes specifying the following knitting operations. These are ano-operation; a practice knitting operation; a racking (an argument of 1corresponds to half the needle pitch, and indicates the rightwardmovement of the back bed when it is negative); a transferring of thestitch; a pull-down tension change (an argument is a tension code); apull-down tension reset; a yarn catcher operation; a yarn cutteroperation end; a knitting end; an original point search; a return tooriginal point; a front/back down stitch code; and the like.

(b) The Parameter Table

This table stores data necessary for knitting in the form of parameters,except for data of individual needles for respective courses. Inaddition to the data associated with the knitting, it also stores thedata associated with withdrawal of the yarn carrier and withtransferring of the stitch. Contents of the data and parameters are asfollows:

Contents of the data:

Contents of the parameters

1) A start condition:

The data of 0 indicates that knitting is performed following theprevious yarn carrier. The data of 1 indicates that all the yarncarriers must be stopped before the knitting is started. The data of 0also indicates that checking whether or not continuous knitting ispossible is also made by the knitting machine main unit.

2) A knitting direction:

The data of 0 indicates the rightward knitting, and the data of 1indicates the leftward knitting.

3) Course counter count-up:

This data indicates the start of knitting of each row. A parameter of 1indicates the increment of the course counter, while that of 0 indicatesno-operation.

4) A twisting course:

The data of 0 indicates a normal knitting course. The data of 1indicates that this course is a twisting course.

5) Transferring of the stitch:

The data of 0 indicates a knit operation, while that of 1 indicates atransferring operation.

6) A yarn carrier number:

The data indicates yarn carriers 1-12 by the numbers 0-11.

7) A yarn carrier speed:

The data indicates a yarn carrier speed by a code. The actual speed ismeasured at the side of the knitting machine main unit for each code. Itis normally used as follows:

0--set up, 1--normal knitting,

2--adjustment 1, 3--adjustment 2.

8) A tension code:

The code indicates the tension set value corresponding to the number ofloop holding needles.

The actual value is set in accordance with this code by the knittingmachine main unit. It is normally used as follows:

0--normal knitting, 1--transferring,

2--adjustment 1, 3--adjustment 2.

9) A yarn carrier operation stroke:

The data indicates the target position of the yarn carrier that operatesin the current course by using an absolute position with regard to thefront bed. For this purpose, (the front needle number * 2) is used. Itcan take a negative value. The front needle number takes a value 0 forthe needle of number 1.

10) The front knitting start needle number; the number of the frontknitting needles; the back knitting start needle number; and the numberof the back knitting needles:

These data indicate the operation range of the needles with regard tothe yarn carrier operation. The start needle number 0 corresponds to theneedle of each number 1 bed. The number of a knitting needle of 0indicates that knitting is not performed in that bed. When both frontand back are 0, the yarn carrier makes a withdrawal operation.

11) The number of loop holding needles:

The data indicates the number of needles currently holding loops inorder to instruct the pull-down device. It is converted to the actualtension set value at the side of the knitting machine main unit usingthe tension code.

12) Unused data:

It is used for matching the delimitation of data, and is represented by0's.

For a transferring course, for example, the first data is represented as00001000000000000000xxxxyyyy0000 (xxxx indicates a speed code, and yyyyindicates a tension code, both being valid), and the target position ofthe yarn carrier is indicated as 0000000000000000, and the remainingdata are valid.

In general, the start condition is a continuous one. Conditions for arestart after an interrupt include the following:

1) The case where operation instructions are continuously fed to thesame yarn carrier.

2) The case where the operation direction is reversed to that of theprevious yarn carrier.

3) The case where the previous yarn carrier is not separated apart by apredetermined distance from the present yarn carrier.

(c) A Cam Shape Designation Table

In this table, data associated with each needle is indicated in apredetermined number of bytes, and the data for one course is arrangedin the sequence of courses. The number of bytes required for each courseis determined by the number of the front and back knitting needles ofthe knitting parameter table. An end code is provided at the end of eachcourse data. This is for facilitating the reading of the entire data ineach course. The data described here are cam numbers, and the actualoperation is specified by the cam index data.

The cam numbers used in the knitting operation include 96 numbers from 0to 95, for example, and the even numbers are for a knit operationwhereas the odd numbers are for a tuck operation, which are used inpairs. Therefore, the number of combinations of a stitch length and ayarn type that can be actually used for one fabric is 48. These are theinternal codes, and they are called as knit 0--knit 47, and tuck 0--tuck47. The converted value is n * 2 for knit n, and n * 2+1 for tuck n.This number n is referred to as a stitch length number or a stitchlength code. Values 128-249 indicate mis-operations, but only 128 isactually used. Values 250-255 are reserved for use in other control. Forthe transferring operation, 0 is allocated to the service side, 1 isallocated to the receive side, and 128 is allocated to the no-operation.

The needles are assumed to be arranged in sequence as front and back.Nothing is mentioned about a bed without performing knitting. The codeappearing first is the operation code of the knitting start needle.

(d) Cam Index Data

The cam index data is valid for an entire fabric. The data file has noheader. This data describes a stitch length and a yarn type for eachstitch length code used in the cam shape designation table. This filehas the original design data name as a comment. It also has data aboutthe data number and the data version. The stitch length values and theyarn types used in this file are the very values set by the design dataand the sequence data. Their meanings, however, are determined by theprogram that converts them to the actual cam shapes. When the knittingmachine main unit reads the cam index data to form cam shapes, they areconverted to cam numbers at a same time for knit operation and tuckoperation

In the present embodiment, the above-described knitting schedule,knitting parameter table, cam shape designation table, and cam indexdata table, which correspond to the type of knitting machine, arecreated by rearranging the knitting sequence of the entire fabric forindividual yarns indicated by the sequence data to the knitting sequencefor individual courses.

When the operator selects the control data conversion processing in themenu image on the display of the engineering workstation 140 (step S120in FIG. 4), the control data conversion processing is started in thesequence of steps S130-S170-S4000. Details of the procedure of theconversion processing are shown in FIG. 27.

The operator designates by the keyboard input unit 110 a sequence datafile to be converted to the control data (step S4010). The CPU of theengineering workstation 140 reads the specified sequence data file fromthe floppy disk, and transfers it to the internal memory (stepsS4010-S4020).

Then, the CPU receives the machine type information of the knittingmachine in the control data which has been prepared based on the inputfrom the operator. The CPU loads the control data preparation programcorresponding to the machine type information from the floppy disk onthe internal memory, and thereafter performs calculation according tothe data preparation program (step S4030).

The CPU first stores in the internal memory the control data inherent inthat knitting machine, which cannot be covered by the sequence data(step S4040).

Then, the sequence data in the internal memory, which is arranged in theindividual yarn numbers, is searched for over the range specified by therange information so that the parameters necessary for preparing thecontrol data are extracted in accordance with the course number. Morespecifically, the course number "1" is set as the search object, and theparameters associated with the above control data are extracted from therange corresponding to the course number "1" and the first yarn numberin the sequence data. In this case, the contents of the types of theparameters to be extracted and the relationship between the parametersof the control data and the sequence control data, are defined in theprogram in the form of a numerical calculation equation or a logicaloperation equation.

Then, the CPU prepares the control data in accordance with therelationship previously defined in the program and by using theextracted parameters of the sequence data, and stores the result in thememory. After that, the same processing is performed repeatedly on thesequence data of. Next yarn number and the following yarn numbers in thecourse number.

Thus, after preparing the control data successively along the waledirection to obtain the control data for one course (steps S4070-S4090),the CPU updates the course number, and prepares the control data in thesequence of the course number. After preparing the control data over therange specified by the operator (step S4060), the CPU registers in thefile, according to the file instruction from the operator, these controldata individually in the form of tables for the respective types asshown in FIG. 26.

The thus file registered control data are read from the floppy disk by atransfer instruction of the operator from the keyboard input unit 110,and are transferred to the knitting machine control panel 320 shown inFIG. 2. The knitting machine carries out the knitting operation by theconventional method known in the art, according to the control data.

(E) Control Data Display

When the operator selects the control data display processing in themenu select image on the display screen (step S120 in FIG. 4), theexecution procedure of the CPU of the engineering workstation 140proceeds to steps S130-S170-S5000 to display the control data. In thisprocessing, the CPU receives the identification name of the control datafrom the operator, reads the corresponding control data from the floppydisk, and displays it. It is also possible for the operator to watch thedisplay screen, and input correction information from the keyboard inputunit 110 to change the control data.

Next, processing in the engineering workstation 140 associated with thepresent invention will now be described.

a) A development processing of the stitch structure data on the memorystorage

Since a common stitch structure is used in a specified range of thefabric in the present embodiment, the operator inputs for instructiononly the stitch structure of a single stitch only in the form of acharacteristic parameter. The present embodiment is characterized inthat the engineering workstation 140 allocates the inputtedcharacteristic parameters to the individual stitches of the specifiedrange in order to represent the stitch structure of the entire fabric.For this purpose, in the present embodiment, the same characteristicparameters as the inputted characteristic parameter are stored at theindividual memory locations corresponding to the stitch positions.

Furthermore, a memory area for storing the above characteristicparameter group is established for a single stitch. Next, a plurality ofthe memory areas are provided for the stitches in the range in which theshape is specified. In addition, each stitch position is made to haveone-to-one correspondence with each memory area location on the memory.

When the characteristic parameter is displayed on the display screen,display addresses are calculated according to the individual memoryaddresses.

b) Input (design) data display

b-1: Shape display

In the present embodiment, the size data of FIG. 6 are inputted byspecifying the positions on the display screen as shown in FIG. 10. Theinput data are displayed in a contour pattern proportional to the sizesas shown in FIG. 12. It is also displayed during the pattern setting asshown in FIG. 14. Since the operator can visually confirm the fabricshape to be prepared, even if an error is made in setting the stitchnumbers of the fabric, he can immediately be aware of it.

Contour display can be achieved by preparing a dot image by connectingwith a line segment adjacent end points in a plurality of end pointsdetermined by the shape sizes inputted, and then displaying the dotimage on the display unit.

b-2: Stitch arrangement display

In the stitch arrangement display, the portion partitioned by a viewport in the layout canvas is displayed. The size of the view port isdetermined in terms of the stitch number according to the specifiedmagnification. The portion selected by the view port is enlarged anddisplayed on the stitch canvas. The display is shown as a rectanglepartitioned by straight lines in the stitch canvas, and the parametersare represented by inside colors and graphics overlapped thereon. Thesize of the rectangle is determined for each magnification in terms of apixel value on the screen. The frame of the rectangle is usuallydisplayed in white, and in the portions other than the fabric, arectangle indicating stitches is display in black.

b-3: Graphic display of parameters

In the present embodiment, in order to learn the final knitted state ofthe fabric, a plurality of pieces of parameter information showing thefabric structure such as links for the individual yarn numbers (FIG. 17)are graphically displayed. To display the parameters, graphic patternsindicating types of parameters are previously stored in the ROM of theengineering workstation 140 or in the floppy disk, and dot imagesshowing the above stitch arrangement and the graphic patterns aresynthesized on the memory. It is needless to say that the positions andnumber of graphic patterns are determined by the inputted parametervalues and stitch arrangement.

When the contents of the data to be displayed are designated by theoperation parameter during the stitch pattern design, the CPU of theengineering workstation 140 interrupts to execute the control procedureshown in FIG. 28. More specifically, the instructed contents areidentified, and the instructed data contents are displayed using theabove display sizes.

In the present embodiment, the state display is possible by graphicpatterns associated with the following parameters.

(a) Same knitting manner data:

The type is indicated by a color outside a small rectangle in FIG. 16.

(b) A stitch length:

A stitch length is indicated by a color inside the rectangle in FIG. 16.

(c) An yarn arrangement with the same yarn number:

This arrangement is display by dash-dotted lines in FIG. 16.

(d) A loop head:

The loop head is displayed by a straight line from a stitch to thedestination stitch. The line color corresponds to the yarn number. Withregard to the loops whose head lines intersect, the upper and lowerrelationship of the loops is indicated. A stitch without the line of aloop head becomes a drop.

(e) A link:

The link is displayed by a straight line connecting hands of stitches.The line color indicates a yarn number (see, FIG. 17). A triangle markand a reversed triangle mark (where are they in figure) indicate ends.When an intarsia type is set, the type is indicated by an alphabeticalletter.

It is also possible to select and display a plurality of types of theseattribute parameters simultaneously.

Furthermore, the above-described contour image and stitch image of thefabric are prepared and synthesized by the CPU 141 on the memory (videoRAM 146) in the engineering workstation 140. Therefore, the CPU 141 andthe video RAM 146 operate as the first to third image processing means(first to third image processing means 3100-3300 in FIG. 1) of thefourth aspect of the present invention.

c) A manner of representing relationships used for the designdata/sequence data conversion and the sequence data/control dataconversion.

The relationships between two data used for the data conversion arerepresented as follows.

c-1: When a parameter B after the conversion is represented by aplurality of parameters A1-An before the conversion, one of an equationlike B=A1+An (including coefficients), a logic equation like if A1="0",then B="1", and a vector equation like B=(A1, A2, . . . An) is used.

c-2: For those including a condition, a logic conditional equation isadded to the above equation.

In the present embodiment, although these equations are defined in thedata conversion program, they can be readily modified if they are storedon a floppy disk in the form of a table, and a desired equation is usedin the data conversion.

Next, an efficient usage of the present system will be described.

Once the design data, the sequence data, and the control data have beensynthesized in the procedure described above, the individual data areregistered in a file on a floppy disk along with their identificationnames. Therefore, when the pattern and the stitch structure of thefabric are to be modified, the design data on the floppy disk is loadedon the engineering workstation. The operator causes the fabric to bedisplayed on the display screen, and adds corrections on necessaryportions of the design data to prepare new fabric design data. Then, thedesign data is registered in the file on the floppy disk with a newidentification name. Such a processing will reduce an amount ofinformation to be inputted by the operator, thus simplifying the inputoperation.

When the operator manually inputs the control data for a knittingmachine which cannot be connected to the present system, it ispreferable that the sequence data be outputted to a printer forprinting. Since the sequence data indicates the knitting procedure suchas driving operations of the knitting needles and the bed, mis-settingwill be reduced when the control data is set according to the knittingprocedure.

In addition to the present embodiment, the present invention canimplement the following examples.

1) Although the present embodiment assumes one of a plurality of typesof double-sided flat knitting machines as a machine that can beconnected to the system, the present invention can also be applied toother types of knitting machines such as a circular knitting machine aswell.

2) Although the present embodiment transmits the control data to theknitting machine through a network line, the control data can also beinputted to the knitting machine via a portable storage medium such as afloppy disk.

3) Although in the present embodiment, the programs and various dataused in the engineering workstation 140 are stored in the floppy disk,they can also be stored on a hard disk or other storage media.Furthermore, it is needless to say that a plurality of types of theabove storage media may be used in combination.

For reference, differences between the present invention and therecording apparatus described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,608,642 and theknitting machine described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,768,357 will be described.The recording apparatus of U.S. Pat. No. 4,608,642 prepares the controldata for driving the knitting machine, when the operator inputsinformation indicating the knitting operation in the form of color codesrather than in the form of design information as in the presentinvention. In contrast, in the present invention, the knit design systemautomatically prepares the information indicating the knittingoperation, and the control data for driving the knitting machine, whenthe operator inputs the design information indicating a stitch structureand the like constituting the fabric. Since the operator can input datawithout considering the knitting sequence, the input operation can besimplified.

In the knitting machine of U.S. Pat. No. 4,768,357, the operator mustprepare the knitting machine driving control data itself. Thus, unlikethe present invention, the control data for driving the knitting machinecannot be prepared from the design data.

With the present invention, the operator can learn the state of thefinished fabric by visually confirming the fabric image displayed on thedisplay unit, thereby eliminating the need for trial knitting asrequired in the prior art. In addition, since the input designinformation is automatically converted to the operation information andthe control information indicating the knitting procedure, theoperator's burden for setting control information to various types ofknitting machines is remarkably reduced.

What is claimed is:
 1. A knit design system, comprising:input means forinputting design information that indicates a shape of a fabric to beknitted and a stitch structure, said stitch structure including headinformation, restriction information, twist information, stitch lengthinformation, yarn number and link information; storage means for storingfirst calculation information indicating correspondence between saiddesign information and operation information, said operation informationincluding sequence data including knitting operation information,racking information, stitch transferring operation information, droppingaction information, encounter setting operation information andpull-down tension setting operation that show a common knittingprocedure for knitting machines; and calculation processing means forconverting said design information inputted from said input means tosaid operation information on the basis of said first calculationinformation in said storage means.
 2. A knit design systemcomprising:input means for inputting design information that indicates ashape of a fabric to be knitted and a stitch structure, said stitchstructure including head information restriction information, twistinformation, stitch length information, yarn number and linkinformation; first storage means for storing first calculationinformation indicating correspondence between said design informationand operation information, said operation information including sequencedata including knitting operation information, racking information,stitch transferring operation information, dropping action information,encounter setting operation information and pull-down tension settingoperation that show a common knitting procedure for knitting machines;first calculation processing means for converting said designinformation inputted from said input means to said operation informationon the basis of said first calculation information in said first storagemeans; second storage means for storing for each type of knittingmachine second calculation information indicating a correspondencebetween said operation information and control information for drivingthe knitting machine; designation means for designating a type of saidknitting machine; and second calculation means for converting operationinformation which has been converted by said first calculation meansinto said control information corresponding to the designated machinetype on the basis of said second calculation information in said secondstorage means corresponding to the designated machine type.
 3. The knitdesign system as claimed in claim 2 further comprising:retaining meansfor storing and retaining said design information inputted, saidoperation information prepared, and said control information prepared;and correction means for correcting information stored in said retainingmeans, wherein said correction means can serve said informationcorrected to said first calculation means when said informationcorrected is the design information, and can serve said informationcorrected to said second calculation means when said informationcorrected is the operation information.
 4. The knit design system ofclaim 2, further comprising:third storage means for storing imageinformation indicating a stitch structure in a plurality of graphicpatterns; input means for inputting design information indicating ashape of a fabric to be knitted and a stitch structure; first imageprocessing means for forming a contour image corresponding to a shapeindicated by said design information inputted; second image processingmeans for preparing a stitch image by using said plurality of graphicpatterns corresponding to a structure indicated by said designinformation inputted from said input means; third image processing meansfor synthesizing said stitch image prepared and said contour image inorder to prepare a fabric image; and display means for displaying thesaid fabric image prepared.
 5. The knit design system as claimed inclaim 4, wherein said second image processing means selects said graphicpatterns externally instructed, and displays on said display means afabric image by using only graphic patterns selected.
 6. The knit designsystem as claimed in claim 4, wherein said third image processing meansscales up or down said fabric image prepared.
 7. The knit design systemas claimed in claim 4, wherein said third image processing meansprepares said stitch image for front portion and back portion of thefabric, respectively.
 8. A knitting data preparation method comprisingthe steps of:predetermining a first correspondence between a pluralityof first characteristic parameters indicating a stitch structure andincluding head information, restriction information twist information,stitch length information, yarn number and link information and aplurality of second characteristic parameters indicating a knittingoperation and including knitting operation information, rackinginformation stitch transferring operation information, dropping actioninformation, encounter setting operation information and pull-downtension setting operation and showing a common knitting procedures forknitting machines; storing in a memory said plurality of firstcharacteristic parameters associated with a fabric in a manner that eachof said plurality of first characteristic parameters corresponds to aone of positions of stitches constituting the fabric to be knitted;reading by using a searching processing of a calculation unit saidplurality of first characteristic parameters successively along aknitting direction of a yarn, said reading being performed with regardto positions of stitches continuously formed by the same yarn in thefabric; and preparing knitting data indicating a knitting procedure ofsaid fabric by converting said plurality of first characteristicparameters which have been read to said plurality of secondcharacteristic parameters according to the first correspondence by usinga calculation processing of the calculation unit.
 9. The knitting datapreparation method as claimed in claim 8 further comprising the stepsof:predetermining a second correspondence between a plurality of controlparameters designating a knitting operation of a knitting machine andsaid plurality of second parameters; rearranging said plurality ofsecond characteristic parameters in a knitting sequence of said knittingmachine by said calculation unit; and converting by the calculationprocessing of the calculation unit said plurality of secondcharacteristic parameters which have been rearranged to said pluralityof control parameters according to the second correspondence, so thatsecond knitting data for controlling said knitting machine is prepared.